Equal Playing Field
Project Overview
Client
Nike, Inc.
Location
Global (Americas, EMEA, APAC)
Role
Inclusive Design Strategist
Scope
Inclusive Workplace Strategy, Global Accessibility Toolkit, and Digital Transformation of Workplace Guidelines
Reflections
This project reaffirmed that inclusion is not a checklist, but a mindset one that requires listening deeply, designing intentionally, and embracing complexity. It was a powerful reminder that when we design with and not just for people, we unlock spaces that are truly transformative.
Brief Introduction : Inclusive Workplace Ecosystem
To support Nike’s global vision of creating an equal playing field for all, we partnered with their Workplace Design + Connectivity (WD+C) team to embed inclusive design principles across their built environments. This initiative focused on transforming Nike’s workplace standards through a data-informed, people-centered approach ensuring accessibility and belonging for 70,000+ employees across regions.
We addressed gaps in digital accessibility, organizational buy-in, and design consistency by developing a comprehensive Universal Design Toolkit. This resource equipped internal teams, architects, vendors, and partners with actionable guidance ranging from visual Do’s & Don’ts to accessibility checklists and empathy-building materials.
The work centered around meaningful engagement with employees of diverse abilities, global WD+C teams, and disability advocacy groups to ensure the outcomes were not only compliant but experiential and inclusive. Disabilities addressed included visual, auditory, cognitive, mobility, and temporary or health-related needs.
By aligning Nike’s purpose-driven goals with design execution, this project became a catalyst for cultural and spatial transformation advancing a more equitable, accessible future at scale.
An Inclusive Process for Inclusive Outcomes
Research & Accessibility Audits
We began by conducting in-depth audits of Nike’s Pre-hall building (Focal point of Nike campus entrance), including spaces such as the GCHQ campus. These assessments focused on identifying physical, sensory, and digital barriers that could hinder inclusivity. The audits extended beyond ADA compliance to evaluate how environments functionally support diverse abilities considering lighting conditions, soundscapes, tactile cues, spatial navigation, furniture usability, and wayfinding.
We also reviewed existing digital platforms and documentation for accessibility gaps, ensuring that tools and guidelines used by global teams were usable by all. This holistic diagnostic phase laid the foundation for setting measurable, human-centered goals for accessibility transformation.
Global Stakeholder Engagement
To ensure a truly inclusive outcome, we embedded stakeholder engagement into every stage of the process. We partnered with Nike’s Workplace Design + Connectivity (WD+C) teams across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions to gather on-the-ground insights and understand regional nuances.
We facilitated targeted workshops and focus groups with:
Employee-led disability advocacy groups, who offered powerful first-person perspectives,
Employees with visible and invisible disabilities, whose lived experiences shaped key design considerations,
Internal design, experience, and construction partners, responsible for implementing solutions at scale.
This collaborative process allowed us to co-create priorities, validate pain points, and surface design opportunities that would have been missed through top-down planning alone. It also fostered a sense of shared ownership essential for long-term success.
Strategy & Toolkit Development
We developed a Universal Design Strategy for Nike’s workplace transformation, featured in a web-based Inclusive Design Toolkit for diverse users. Key deliverables included:
A visual “Do’s & Don’ts” guide for inclusive spatial scenarios.
Tactical workplace accessibility guidelines tailored to Nike.
“Equal Playing Field” resources to enhance empathy for individuals with disabilities.
Integration of universal design principles into Nike’s Workplace Design Standards.
This toolkit empowered teams to prioritize accessibility in design, ensuring consistent application across their varied portfolio.